Objective:

Asymptomatic bacteriuria, when inadequately managed during pregnancy, is associated with pyelonephritis, which may give rise to maternal and foetal complications. The objective of this study was to characterize uropathogens associated with the presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and their susceptibility profile in a sample of pregnant women.

Materials and methods:

Descriptive, cross-sectional study in pregnant women coming to antenatal care at a Level I center in the Department of Atlantico, Colombia. A convenience sampling was made from the universe of patients seen in the programme. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was diagnosed on the basis of the finding of counts ≥ 105 colonies /mL of a single germ, unaccompanied by symptoms. An automated Phoenix® BD system was used for the identification and determination of the susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, and the frequency and susceptibility by germ type are described.

Results:

Overall, 226 pregnant women were included. The frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 10.6 %. The uropathogen most frequently isolated was Escherichia coli in 25 % of cases, followed by Enterococcus faecalis in 20.8 %. Ampicillin resistance was 33.3 % and 20 %, respectively; the rest of the enterobacteria identified show natural resistance to this antibiotic. For trimetoprim sulfametoxazol resistence was 66 %. Regarding Nitrofurantoin resistance was 1.6 % and 20 % for E. coli and E. faecalis, respectively.

Conclusions:

There is significant resistance of the most frequently isolated germs in pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria to ampicillin, trimetoprim sulfametoxazol Nitrofurantoin continues to be a good treatment option during the first half of the pregnancy.

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